We get lots of great questions from our readers each month. Among the most popular is “How can I find a car audio installer near me?” As professionals in the mobile enhancement industry, we know this is one of the biggest challenges that consumers face. It’s easy to search for stores on the internet, but the results don’t tell you anything about the quality of the services offered by those retailers. So, we’ve created this article to help you find a GOOD installer that will treat your vehicle with respect and deliver upgrades that sound amazing.
What To Look for in a Reputable Car Audio Installer
You are searching for someone to make modifications to your car or truck. In most cases, aside from a home, your vehicle is one of your most significant financial investments. The reliability of your vehicle is crucial to your being able to get to and from work and around your city or town. It’s cliché, but the truth is, you don’t want just anyone mucking about with the wiring, even if a task seems simple.
Looking for a retailer to work with is like looking for an artist to paint a portrait. You want someone with experience and talent. Specific to this industry, they should thoroughly understand the laws of physics and how electronics and electrical systems work. Most importantly, they should be professional at all times. You are putting the reliability of your vehicle in their hands.
Step 1: Website Research
The internet exists for two reasons: to inform and to entertain. Ignoring the latter, start your search for a car audio installer with the search term “car audio installer near me.” Search engines should use your geographic location, based on where you are when accessing the internet, to provide results. Make a list of the shops the search engine has suggested.
Once you have a list of the shops, it’s time to dig into each one. Start by visiting their website. The site should present details on the solutions they provide. There should be detailed examples of their work and their clients’ reviews. Look closely at the images they have posted. You’re looking to get a feel for their capabilities and the quality of their services.
Step 2: Social Media
You can learn a lot about a shop by how it presents itself on social media. Are the posts or videos relevant to the services they offer? Is there informative information or just filler? Does the content focus on price, or are product and service quality important?
Step 3: Your First Store Visit
Once you’ve made a list of shops worthy of a visit, it’s time to make a second list of questions to ask. When you get to the store, start by looking around. Is the showroom tidy? Are the displays functional and adequately stocked? Does the store carry top-quality brands? How much inventory do they have? This information can tell you a lot about the stability of the company and its attention to detail.
After you start talking with a product specialist, get a sense of how interested they are in understanding your needs. Are they in a rush to sell you something on sale, or do they ask questions to ensure that you get the best product for your needs, expectations and application? Did they offer to let you audition the solution or compare the performance of different offerings? One of our favorite “tests” is to ask why they suggest a specific solution. The answer should reiterate many of the points you outlined in expressing your goals for the upgrade. If the answer is about price and not performance, that’s a red flag unless you specifically asked for the least expensive product and not one that performs well.
Be sure to ask about the warranty on the solution they suggest. Do they cover the cost of removal and reinstallation? Do they replace the component or send it out for repair? Do they cover the shipping costs back to a manufacturer or distributor?
Step 4: Quantify Their Capabilities
The entire process of finding a quality “car stereo installer near me” is to quantify the capabilities of the technicians who might be working on your vehicle. Beyond qualifying the product and solution development process, you want to know that the technicians are going to do a good job. Ask to see the installation facility. It should be spacious, organized and well-lit. What you’re looking for here is attention to detail. Are trim and door panels from vehicles lying on the floor or somewhere safe? Do they use seat and steering wheel protection? Do the cars or trucks in the bays have fender covers? Are the vehicles connected to battery chargers?
Ask to see examples of how they route wires, make electrical connections and mount components. Are they altering the vehicle or making use of existing fastener locations? Are their upgrades focused on improving audio component performance or making the installation look flashy? You are trying to identify whether these are professionals or just paid hobbyists.
Step 5: Choose the Best “Car Audio Installer Near Me”
There’s a lot of information to manage here, even for something as simple as a speaker upgrade or a new radio. It’s essential to be honest with yourself, so that you can choose the “best installer near me” to get the results you want. The selection process should never be about price. Do you haggle over the cost of a steak at Ruth’s Chris or The Keg? No, never. You go there for what should be a fantastic meal.
If the best installer in your area costs more than all the rest, and they’re delivering better services and a solution that will perform better and last longer, then that is money well spent. Shops that focus on price often don’t have anything else to offer. So, if they are enticing you with a deal or discount, ask yourself why.
